Mickie Most at his Oxford Street desk, in a deluge of Animals and Herman’s Hermits 45s

  Mickie’s desk mate, Peter Grant

  The New Yardbirds’ first ever gig at the Gladsaxe Teen Club in Copenhagen, September 7, 1968

  An early Led Zeppelin publicity photo, 1969

  A man and his bow, in the heat of “White Summer”

  Christmas dinner at the Chateau Marmont. Bah, humbug! December 1968

  The Boston Tea Party, January 1969. Where it changed forever.

  The Thames they are a-changin’. Jimmy on the deck of his Pangbourne boathouse.

  The man who kept everything up in the air, Richard Cole

  Robert with Maureen Wilson and Carmen at Jennings Farm, 1970

  Jimmy summons the spirits on the theremin for “Whole Lotta Love.”

  Robert celebrating the de-pantsing of Phil Carson. The rest of the clothes came off outside the Tokyo Hilton, September 1971.

  Ricardo and Jimmy share a parasol at Kyoto Station. G, as always, has their backs, September 1971.

  Jimmy with Rodney Bingenheimer and fourteen-year-old Lori Mattix during happier days in Los Angeles, June 1972.

  The gang holding court at Rodney’s. (Sable Starr leans against Robert; Mick Hinton plays waiter; Lori Mattix mugs next to John Bonham.)

  Jimmy with pals Rodney Bingenheimer and Miss Pamela, and Lori hovers in shadow.

  Led Zeppelin shows off their new set of wheels.

  John Paul Jones provides in-flight entertainment while Ahmet Ertegun and guests look on.

  Robert and Ricardo snuggle in the Starship’s understated bedroom, June 1973.

  On good nights, their excitement was palpable.

  Zep unplugged: the acoustic set offered a respite from the hysteria.

  Maggie Bell and Leslie Harvey turn up the heat.

  Led Zeppelin finally gets the front-page press they crave.

  Jimmy and Robert scour the columns for any slight.

  Swan Song’s “Come As You Are” party. Some guests took it literally.

  Karac, Maureen, Robert, and Carmen in Wales, near Bron-Yr-Aur, October 1976

  John Paul entertaining his wife, Mo, and their daughters, Jacinda and Tamara, July 1970

  A rare shot of the entire band onstage

  Jimmy in Chicago, 1975. Robert called him “the führer of the Fourth Reich.”

  Bonzo in the throes of a “Moby Dick” marathon

  Jimmy goes neck-and-neck on “Stairway to Heaven.”

  “I’ll see your two necks and raise you one.”

  The boys from the Midlands

  When it was good it was very, very good.

  Some nights, Jimmy was higher than a kite.

  The aftermath of havoc wreaked by a crowd waiting to purchase advance tickets to a Led Zeppelin concert in Boston, January 7, 1975

  Backstage wasn’t always glamorous, but G hit the fashion high notes with his trademark coonskin cap.

  “For I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink.”—Matthew 25:35

  “Thanks, but I’ve got my own.”—Jimmy 08:75

  Tour doctor, Larry Badgley, shows off his stash. Jimmy admitted to swiping the doctor’s Quaaludes.

  Robert nurses his bum foot while rhapsodizing in Sweden.

  “Get to the limos!” A fast getaway was needed following the premier of The Song Remains the Same.

  At the premier of The Song Remains the Same. Ahmet Ertegun asks Robert: “Who was that guy on the horse?”

  Led Zeppelin at a loose rehearsal before the Knebworth gig

  Peter Grant and Bill Graham on their way to “make peace” with Jim Matzorkis, Oakland 1979

  Led Zeppelin’s last U.S. performance, Oakland 1979. The creators of This Is Spinal Tap would never forget it.

  G and son Warren, whose sticky fingers touched off a backstage brawl, Oakland 1979.

  “Ouch!” Jimmy winces his way through their painful Live Aid performance, July 18, 1985.

  Acknowledgments

  I am indebted to many individuals who encouraged and assisted me throughout the process of researching and writing this biography. My deepest gratitude, first and foremost, goes to my editor, Scott Moyers, who proposed this project, shepherded it through every stage, exhibited enormous patience and unassuming expertise, and to whom this book is gratefully dedicated. He truly loves rock ’n roll, and I drew on his infectious spirit while writing the manuscript. I am also beholden to Sloan Harris, whose advocacy and candor has kept me focused on what’s important throughout our long relationship, and to Ann Godoff for her leap of faith.

  I also want to express my debt to Barney Hoskyns and his extraordinary archive, rocksbackpages.com, whose resources are second to none. Barney’s oeuvre of stylishly written rock books, including his excellent oral history of Led Zeppelin, Trampled Under Foot, provided a wealth of illuminating interviews, and his offer to quote extensively from it was not taken lightly. Additionally, he provided inside dope and contact information for many of the sources in this book.

  My appreciation extends to many kind folks, but especially to David Williams, Jimmy Page’s boyhood mate and a quintessential blues expert, who answered endless questions and shared fascinating personal details. The same with the unflappable Chris Charlesworth, whose fine music journalism I’ve read and enjoyed for nearly fifty years. Chris took a machete to the manuscript and worked his ass off, collecting the author’s copious errors as though they might somehow endow the Charlesworth Retirement Fund. I owe that guy several fabulous meals. Dave Lewis, who publishes Tight But Loose and is the foremost archivist of all things Led Zeppelin, also contributed guidance that is evident throughout this book.

  I am especially grateful to the men and women, eyewitnesses to the thrilling Led Zeppelin odyssey, who shared their recollections and insights: Carmine Appice (a double threat: drummer extraordinaire and blessed with a set of awesome pipes), the irrepressible Maggie Bell, Dave Berry, Danny Betesh, Ed Bicknell, Rodney Bingenheimer, Cookie Brusa, Phil Carlo, Phil Carlson, Michal Des Barres, Bill Curbishley, Clive Davis, Bob Emmer, BP Fallon, Mitchell Fox, Kevyn Gammond, Vanessa Gilbert, Danny Goldberg, Colin Golding, Jerry Greenberg, Bill Harry, Abe Hoch, Jeff Hoffman, Elizabeth Iannaci, Glyn Johns, Shelley Kaye, Don Law, Benji LeFevre, Harvey Lisberg, Paul Lockey, Unity MacLean, Danny Marcus, Nick Maria, Lori Mattix, Roger Mayer, Jim McCarty, John Mendelssohn, the fabulous Graham Nash, Dave Pegg, Aubrey Powell, Terry Reid, Alan Rogan, John “Carter” Shakespeare, Henry “the Horse” Smith, John “Jumbo” Spicer, Shel Talmy, Phil Wells at Marshall Amps, Janine (Safer) Whitney, Sally Williams, Carole (Brown) Woods, and Joe “Jammer” Wright.

  Additionally, I’d like to thank Michael J. Brennan, Jeanne Busson, Peter Ames Carlin, Jonathon Green, Bob Gruen, Casey Kaplan at Morrison Hotel Gallery, Mark Knopfler, Gered Mankowitz, Robin Mayhew of the Presidents, Paul McCartney for granting me permission to print Linda’s lovely photo of Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, Marc Myers, Jon Pareles, Barry Plummer, Neal Preston, Michael Zagaris, the late, great Peter Simon, and Helen Walker. Several friends read portions of the manuscript and weighed in with opinions and suggestions, among them Jonathan Eig (a wonderful biographer in his own right), Sandy D’Amato, Mark Bittman, John Scheinfeld, Rob Harris, Jon Whitney, and Lynne Kirby.

  As always, Mia Council marshalled the publication process, keeping everything on track. When my next book comes due, if she decides to take a hasty, loooooong vacation, I will completely understand. Her colleagues at Penguin Press who contributed enormously to the look, feel, and legitimacy of this book include: Evan Gaffney for a beautifully designed cover; Hilary Roberts for a painstaking and meticulous copyedit (sorry, Hilary, but “blowjob” is one word); Eric Wechter, the fearless production editor; Laura Ogar for a thorough index; and Amelia Zalcman, who gave the manuscript a legal read and earned every penny of her hourly rate. I must also thank the gang of extraordinary photographers whose images appear in the book and who, contrary to their reputations, cut me a considerable break.

  Lastly, no one was more supportive than Becky Aikman, the Iron Lady of grammar, who whacked her way through the adverbial weeds and provided insight, wisdom, and love, although not necessarily in that order. She continues to have my back, my front, even my rough sides, in exchange for the promise that I will not play “Stairway to Heaven” again. Ever.

  Friends, family, colleagues, sources—to one and all, a whole lotta love.

  Notes

  The names of Led Zeppelin band members are abbreviated in the notes as follows:

  JB (John Bonham)

  JP (Jimmy Page)

  JPJ (John Paul Jones)

  RP (Robert Plant)

  Abbreviated forms of books and magazines have been used in these Notes for the following:

  MM (Melody Maker)

  NME (New Musical Express)

  Trampled (Barney Hoskyns, Trampled Under Foot)

  Trouser Press interview (Dave Schulps, “Jimmy Page Gives the Interview of His Life”), Part 1 (“Pre-Yardbirds,” September 1977); Part 2 (“Paging the Yardbirds: Jimmy Page Gives His Version,” October 1977); Part 3 (“The Final Page: Jimmy P. on Led Z.,” November 1977)

  Prologue

  Alison Steele, NEW’s Nightbird: “The first place I got the record played was New York City, on WNEW on Alison Steele’s nighttime show.” Mario Medious, quoted in Barney Hoskyns, Trampled Under Foot (London: Faber & Faber, 2012), p. 128.

  converted Unitarian meeting house: Music Museum of New England, “The Boston Tea Party,” n.d., www.mmone.org/the-boston-tea-party.

  “It was a tough neighborhood”: Don Law, interview with the author, November 8, 2018.

  “lived up to [their] advance”: Ben Blummenberg, “Jimmy Page: After the Yardbirds . . . Comes Led Zeppelin,” Boston After Dark, February 5, 1969.

  He felt at home: “It’s one of the best places he’s ever played,” Robert Plant announced from the stage, January 23, 1969.

  Law spent a few minutes: Don Law interview.

  “One of the things”: RP, quoted in Chris Welch, “Robert Plant,” MM, March 19, 1977.

  Just that Thursday afternoon: Randy Harrison, comment (June 16, 2010) on “January 26, 1969, Boston, MA, Boston Tea Party,” Timeline, ledzeppelin.com.

  “to whom we all owe”: RP, interview with Terry Gross, Fresh Air, NPR, August 24, 2004.

  “were jamming as if they”: Bob Kenney, concert review, Guitar Player, June 1968.

  “ranked in the company”: Philip Elwood, “Impressive New Rock Group,” San Francisco Examiner, January 11, 1969.

  “Several critics, myself included”: Ritchie Yorke, “Led Zeppelin,” Toronto Globe & Mail, January 3, 1969.

  “After the San Francisco gig”: JP, quoted in Nick Kent, “Session Star: Jimmy Page,” NME, September 1, 1973.

  “Each member of the group”: Pam Brent, review of concert January 19, 1969, at Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI, in Creem, March 1969.

  “We got better each day”: JP, quoted in Beat Instrumental, April 1969.

  “like kings, like conquering heroes”: W. Brennan, comment (December 8, 2008) on “January 26, 1969.”

  “hit your chest”: Brennan, comment on “January 26, 1969.”

  “like a runaway freight train”: Harrison, comment on “January 26, 1969.”

  “You could feel the whole”: Mario Medious, quoted in Hoskyns, Trampled, p. 124.

  “getting sound and feedback”: Brennan, comment on “January 26, 1969.”

  “If you don’t want to”: Blummenberg, “Jimmy Page.”

  After some deliberation: “We played the act twice.” JP, quoted in Mat Snow, “Led Zeppelin,” Q, December 1990.

  They looked as though they’d: “The room was a steam bath.” Stephen Davis, LZ-’75 (New York: Gotham Books, 2010), p. 22.

  “There were kids actually bashing”: JPJ, quoted in Nick Kent, “Led Zeppelin: The Zeppelin Road Test,” NME, February 23, 1973.

  “Zeppelin was so fucking heavy”: Steven Tyler, quoted in Davis, LZ-’75, p. 23.

  “It was in such a state”: JPJ, quoted in Kent, “Led Zeppelin.”

  As they staggered into: “Peter hugged us at the end of the gig, picked all four of us up at once.” JP, quoted in Snow, “Led Zeppelin.”

  “was crying, if you can”: JPJ, quoted in Kent, “Led Zeppelin.”

  “were actually going to”: JP, quoted in Snow, “Led Zeppelin.”

  “the key Led Zeppelin gig”: JPJ, quoted in Kent, “Led Zeppelin.”

  “For four consecutive evenings”: Blummenberg, “Jimmy Page.”

  Chapter One: A Case of the Blues

  “sounded tough, unpolite”: “But with some light and shade in each number.” Max Jones, concert review, MM, October 25, 1958.

  “reverberate[d] through the annals”: Owen Adams, “Muddy’s Blues Didn’t Rock Us,” Music Blog, theguardian.com, March 17, 2008.

  “sometimes ankle-deep in condensation”: Keith Richards with James Fox, Life (New York: Little, Brown, 2010), p. 88.

  The night the club opened: “It was packed from the first night.” Alexis Korner, quoted in John Pidgeon, “A Conversation with Alexis Korner,” unpublished, November 15, 1971, transcript posted on Rock’s Backpages.

  “Of course, I knew Lewis”: “He finished his little bit, came over, and we had a chat.” David Williams, interview with the author, November 28, 2018.

  “Who are you listening to?”: David Williams interview.

  “all lips and ears”: Long John Baldry, quoted in John Pidgeon, “Blues Incorporated: How British R&B Trashed Trad,” Rock’s Backpages, September 24, 2009.

  “Whatever it was”: Jim McCarty with Dave Thompson, Nobody Told Me! (self-published, 2018); Jim McCarty, interview with the author, September 12, 2019.

  “This was serious shit!”: David Williams interview.

  “I was struggling”: “I saw him play bottleneck guitar.” JP, quoted in David Fricke, “Jimmy Page: The Rolling Stone Interview,” Rolling Stone, December 6, 2012.

  Illinois Golden Gloves Heavyweight Championship: Willie Dixon and Don Snowdon, I Am the Blues (New York: Da Capo, 1990), p. 33.

  “produced a harmonica and blew”: David Williams, The First Time We Met the Blues (York, UK: Music Mentor Books, 2009), p. 85.

  “he dropped the guitar”: Williams, First Time We Met the Blues, p. 89.

  “Their jaws were on their knees”: David Williams interview.

  “It was a matter”: Vic Johnson, quoted in Bill Wyman with Ray Coleman, Stone Alone (New York: Viking, 1990), pp. 121–22.

  “It was a nondescript street”: David Williams interview.

  “complete and utter junk”: David Williams interview.

  “He liked to listen to records”: Patricia Page, quoted in Ritchie Yorke, Led Zep (New York: Two Continents, 1976), p. 25.

  “You had to stick”: JP, quoted in Steven Rosen, “Jimmy Page,” Guitar Player, July 1997.

  “like divine intervention”: JP, quoted in Fricke, “Jimmy Page.”

  “I heard the acoustic guitar”: JP, quoted in Dave Schulps, Trouser Press interview, Part 1, p. 12.

  “I wanted to play it”: JP, quoted in a Sunday Times article, blind-quoted in Chris Salewicz, Jimmy Page (New York: Da Capo, 2019), pp. 20–21.

  Called skiffle, after African American slang: Jonathon Green, Green’s Dictionary of Slang (online edition, 2019), definition provided to the author by Jonathon Green.

  Between thirty thousand: Ronald D. Cohen, Folk Music: The Basics (New York: Routledge, 2006), p. 98.

  “From the beginning”: David Williams interview.

  “I was far too impatient”: JP, quoted in John Tobler and Stuart Grundy, The Guitar Greats (London: BBC Publishing, 1983), p. 96.

  “You listened to the solo”: JP, quoted in David Fricke, “Q&A: Jimmy Page,” Rolling Stone, June 12, 2008.

  Trouble was, his guitar wasn’t: “The Spanish guitar quickly became obsolete to my needs.” JP, quoted in Michael Odell, “The Jimmy Page Interview,” Uncut, November 2019, p. 64.